Drug Jars
MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1815-1830
MediumMold-formed porcelain with gilding and overglaze enamels in black, brown, purple, green, pink, red, and blue
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height including lid x diameter .1a,b): 11 x 4 5/8in. (27.9 x 11.7cm)
Primary Dimensions (height including lid x diameter .2a,b): 10 1/4 x 4 5/8in. (26 x 11.7cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
Object number1945.1.1393.1a,b-.2a,b
DescriptionPair of cylindrical, porcelain lidded drug jars with gilding and hand-painted enamels. Each drug jar is decorated in the Empire, or late classical revival, style popular in the early part of the nineteenth century. Each jar (.a) has a shield-shaped area surrounded by an elaborate border of floral cornucopias and gilded flowers and scrolls. The black and brown cornucopias form the lower sides of the shield, with pink, red, and purple flowers emerging at the top of the cornucopias about half way down the side of each jar. The top of the shield is decorated with scrolls and flowers in a symmetrical pattern. Inside the shield, each jar has different Latin words as follows: jar .1 "BUT: CAO"; and, jar .2 "CONF:/ SENNAE". Each jar has a single band of gilding just below the rim, and two bands of gilding at the foot. Each jar also has a tall lid (.b) with a round finial at the top. The top of the finial is gilded, with an additional band of gilding below the base of the finial, and at the rim of each lid. The gilding on each jar and lid has worn slightly, while the gilding on the finials has worn more. The remnants of an unknown brown substance have adhered to jar .2 just above the enamel and gilt decoration and at the foot just below.
NotesSubject note: The Latin phrases found in the center of each shield are most likely abbreviations for the chemical compounds that were contained in each jar. (Hunt 11/29/2004)Status
Not on view
